Presidential Rivals Pander With 'Zero Foreign Aid'

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum wasn’t too impressed with the support his opponents Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich offered for the idea of eliminating foreign aid during the candidates debate Saturday.

"They're pandering to this anti-foreign aid element out there," former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

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Texas Gov. Perry said during the debate that he would cut U.S. aid budgets to zero for each foreign country. Then any future aid allocation would depend on which countries support the United States. He implied Israel would continue to receive aid, while Pakistan wouldn’t.

Former House Speaker Gingrich gave a nod to the idea, too.

"This was, I think, a lowlight in that debate," Santorum said.

American citizens don’t realize just how small our foreign aid budget is, Santorum said. “When I tell them it's less than a half a percent [of total government spending], people are shocked," Santorum said.

Foreign aid is important in terms of forestalling the need for U.S. military action instead. It’s valuable in “preventing America from getting involved in things it shouldn’t be,” Santorum said.

The United States can’t simply desert Pakistan, he said. "We have had good relationships, we need to continue to foster those relationships, lest radical elements in Pakistan wrest control of that country and with it nuclear weapons," Santorum said.

Beck on Santorum, Is he the next George Washington

Glenn Beck on his Monday radio show suggested Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum could be "the next George Washington."

"If there is one guy out there that is the next George Washington, the only guy that I could think of is Rick Santorum. I would ask that you would take a look at him," said Beck. He prefaced his comments by saying that he doesn't endorse candidates, make donations or get "involved in politics." He also clarified that he doesn't "trust" any of the candidates, but if he had to pick one, it would be Santorum.

Santorum's campaign sent out a fundraising e-mail on Monday highlighting the comments.

Last June, Beck said to Santorum, "I could kiss you in the mouth," after Santorum said he had signed on to the "Cut, Cap and Balance" pledge. He quickly clarified, "I was just kidding, I don't want to kiss you in the mouth."

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, remains a long shot in the Republican presidential primary despite heavily campaigning in Iowa. Santorum has visited all of Iowa's 99 counties and visited the state more than any other presidential candidate. However, a late October Des Moines Register poll put him at five percent in the state. Santorum garnered one percent support in a national Public Policy Polling survey released on Monday.

Take a look at the most unforgettable moments from Santorum's 2012 campaign thus far.

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